According to the Office for National Statistics, an estimated 3.5 million people in private households had Covid-19 last week, up 29 percent from 2.7 million last week.
This is the highest estimate for the total number of infections since mid-April, but is still below the record 4.9 million at the height of the omicron BA.2 wave in late March.
The roll-out of the autumn booster is expected to begin in September and patients are likely to receive Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.
Patients who have not had a vaccination in the past three months are eligible for a booster.
For over-75s who accepted a spring booster offer in March, this will be their fifth offer of a coronavirus vaccine.
The JCVI considered the spread of the BA.4 and BA.5 variantsas well as the benefits of combining the booster rollout with the flu vaccine rollout.
The expansion of vaccine offerings to other groups came after experts raised concerns about the current prevalence and infectivity of the two variants.
Take Action Against Double Threat
Experts are also concerned about a double threat of flu and Covid-19 this winter and wanted to proceed as a precaution.
It is hoped that the expansion of supply will and will continue to increase the immunity of people at higher risk for serious disease. more people from the hospital.
Others eligible for an additional dose include residents in a nursing home for older adults and staff, primary care health and social workers, and people ages five to 49 in a clinical risk group, including pregnant woman.
Older groups will still be prioritized as with previous implementations.
dr. Mary Ramsay, head of immunization at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “By increasing eligibility for the flu vaccine will reduce the number of people getting seriously ill and ease the pressure on the NHS, especially during the busy winter period.”
She specifically called on pregnant women to come forward for their booster, as they are more at risk for severe Covid-19.
Prof Anthony Harnden, the deputy chair of the JCVI, said: “The Covid-19 boosters are very effective at increasing immunity and by offering an extra dose this fall to those at higher risk of serious illness, we hope we significantly reduce the risk. of hospital admissions and deaths in winter.”
Boris Johnson said the next phase of the booster program will “keep our defenses strong through the fall and winter.”